Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

A New Morning Routine

Everyone here probably thinks that I am not overly fond of Sansa. I am always talking about how she is pecking everyone else and mean to my clear favorites Sydney and Phyllis. (I should run a post and have you rank my flock in order of my favorites as you perceive them and see how they match to my own)

The walnuts have started something special between Sansa and me. Most but not every morning, I stick a couple of walnuts in my pocket. I go out and sit in my chair under the magnolia tree and have my morning coffee with the flock like always.

I'll be out there 20 minutes or so and the flock will be done saying hello and will go on with their business (no more coffee clatch ). Once everyone has dispersed, Sansa will come over and hang out for a little bit under my side table. You know the one that had the petunias on when Lucky was a wee lass.

She will then peck my pocket for a walnut. Because of where she is at, the rest of the flock does not realize she is getting a treat and no one comes by to steal it from her. I'm talking about you Aurora. Its just Sansa, me, and the walnut.

Sansa looking up from under the table
View attachment 2305145

And for those who forget, Sansa is the the last hen to rest on me on their own.

View attachment 2305146

I adore that first pic ❤ ❤

 

[BY Bob]

Thank you. I will try and get a picture of their combs side by side. It is hard because I swear they don’t sit still for more than a moment which is why I grabbed the chance of Minnie posing!
I thought her carriage looked like a Minnie, but then I thought maybe I was being overly anthropomorphic - to me she looks so much like a ‘proper young lady’ in her little black hat.

To me as well. I had a similar panic about Aurora at that age. She was looking too much like Jabberwocky. But she never had the rooster carriage.

 

[Mmanist]

I know it is pretty popping around here.

I've thought of many things regarding the pool, including just making them live in the coop complex. That would greatly reduce the risks to their lives. Such as:

• Death by hawk
• Death by drowning
• Death by car on the street (I once found Phyllis in the street)
• Death by daytime ground predator (dogs, etc.)

And make my life easier:

• No poop to wash off the deck
• No poop to wash off the patio
• No one stealing my tomatoes from the deck planter
• No poop on my seat cushions
• No one sneaking in my house (I see you Phyllis)
• No one crushing the flowers in my deck pots
• No one banging on the back door demanding snacks
• No chickens mooching dinner when I eat outside

But I would also miss out on:

• No coffee clatch in the morning
• No one sneaking in my house (I see you Phyllis)
• No chickens mooching dinner when I eat outside
• No one banging on the back door demanding snacks
• No watching them as they move across the grass mowing it for me
• No dust pits under the magnolia tree.
• No chickens being chickens

I just feel they should have the opportunity to roam and I always feel bad when they are locked in the complex all day.

I could limit their free range to when I can guard them like a shepherd but that would limit their free range to an hour or so in the evening when I can stand guard. To me that is like recess at a prison. A nice prison but a prison none the less.

I choose to let them free range when I am home despite the risk. I feel it is a better quality of life for them and I try to manage the risk by checking on them and listening for alarm calls. This instance with Ned is the first time no one has called for help when some one has fallen in the pool. I am usually there within minutes if not seconds of someone falling in. The call for help is very distinctive.

This is not the right solution for everyone. It is how I have chosen to let my ladies live. It has cost me several hens, Dolly to a hawk, Elphie and Dusty to the pool, and sweet Maleficent to a predator. But Maleficent would not have been the special hen she was cooped up in the complex day after day.

I choose to free range, even with the coyotes, hawks, raccoons, and what ever else thinks my chickens are free range nuggets. My chickens are clearly happier doing what chickens do best, being chickens. I guess, I rather them die happy, than bored. Sorry I'm still catching up!

 

[BY Bob]

I choose to free range, even with the coyotes, hawks, raccoons, and what ever else thinks my chickens are free range nuggets. My chickens are clearly happier doing what chickens do best, being chickens. I guess, I rather them die happy, than bored. Sorry I'm still catching up!

No worries. There is a lot of action here.

You have bigger predator problems than I but I understand why you let them free range. It's about letting them be as happy as possible, even if it's more dangerous. My poor Maleficent was killed while supposedly safe anyway. My prediction is that with the Littles gone we won't see another chicken in the pool this year. The older girls know better and aren't really spoked or chased into it.

 

[Mmanist]

No worries. There is a lot of action here.

You have bigger predator problems than I but I understand why you let them free range. It's about letting them be as happy as possible, even if it's more dangerous. My poor Maleficent was killed while supposedly safe anyway. My prediction is that with the Littles gone we won't see another chicken in the pool this year. The older girls know better and aren't really spoked or chased into it.

I was going to ask about your pool, if you had any problems with the chickens. But seen that later reading. I dont have a pool, I'd love one. But worry about my kids!

 

[Mmanist]

O NO!

I spilled the meal worms! What a mess! Where can I find someone to help me clean these up?
View attachment 2291115

O look! Some volunteers! Thank heavens!
View attachment 2291111View attachment 2291112View attachment 2291110View attachment 2291113

This makes me giggle! Rori and Ruby used to come inside and clean up dog and cat food that falls in the crack by the door. Well Rori learned that, she also learned where the dogs bowls are. So she would hide and hurry up and sneak inside to steal dog food. Once she did without me noticing, and I heard the clan of food bowls. When my dogs are all in the living room. Surely enough rori is over there pacing the door wanting back out.... silly bird.

 

[BY Bob]

I was going to ask about your pool, if you had any problems with the chickens. But seen that later reading. I dont have a pool, I'd love one. But worry about my kids!

The key is where your pool fence is. Mine is the perimeter of my property. If yours is directly around the pool then it would be extremely unlikely they would wind up in it. It is always a misjudgement that ends up with a chicken in the pool.

 

[BY Bob]

This makes me giggle! Rori and Ruby used to come inside and clean up dog and cat food that falls in the crack by the door. Well Rori learned that, she also learned where the dogs bowls are. So she would hide and hurry up and sneak inside to steal dog food. Once she did without me noticing, and I heard the clan of food bowls. When my dogs are all in the living room. Surely enough rori is over there pacing the door wanting back out.... silly bird.

That is exactly what Phyllis does to the cats.

 

[CrazyChookChookLady]

Yes, I can't keep a rooster here but he has gone to an excellent home. In fact they may be more accepted there than here with their Mom. I think their Dad runs a much friendlier flock than Lilly does.

They are so cute right now, the flock is totally cool with them. I think it helps that my bully chicken, Digger died earlier this summer. The second biggest bully is Livi my only RIR, but she's just coming off being broody and is molting pretty bad right now.

The littles are a bit bewildered as to why all these big chickens aren't chasing them!! They all are mingling, eating, and drinking together.

 

[RoyalChick]

To me as well. I had a similar panic about Aurora at that age. She was looking too much like Jabberwocky. But she never had the rooster carriage.

Wow, who would have thought it? Aurora one of the more matronly of the Aunts!
Just shows us chicken tenders tend to panic too soon!